Hair-waving comb



NOV. 23, 1943. w, WOODRUFF 2,334,737

HAIR WAVING COMB Filed July 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Nov. 23, 1943. R. w. WOODRUFF HAIR WAVING COMB Filed July 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n ml,

I/wenfor: Raj/in (h/00d u f I through the hair.

Patented Nov. 23, 19 43 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE am-$1211: come Rollin W. Woodmfi Portland, Ore. Applicationjuly 24.19 39, Serial No; 286,097

The object of my invention is to provide a device by which hair which is more or less straight can be given an attractive wave by the use of comb-like devices which can be drawn To this end-I provide a pair of comb elements movable relatively one with the other. elements so that they can be moved selectively either into registration or into staggered over lying relation one with the other. Thus, the hair can be arranged between the teeth of said comb elements, and the teethcan be moved relatively so as to grip the hair tightly between said teeth. I deem it necessary that the teeth be capable of overlying each other so that a substantlalgrip can be had upon the separate hairs. This is necessary so that sumcient pressure can be exerted on the hair to flatten the hairs in cross section, and when the comb-is drawn lengthwise of the hair, to arrange a sharp edge in contact with one side of the hair-to form a wind" in each of the hairs. Said winds tend to align more or less. and thus a regular wave is produced in the hair. From my experiments I feel that a mere sharp edge alone over which the hair can be drawn is insufllcient to produce this result satisfactorily and without pulling the hair too much or without doing damage thereto. I feel, also, that mere pressure in insufficient, and that it is necessary to provide devices which may be shifted relatively to staggered overlying positions to produce a combination of pressure and flattening by at least one sharp edge to produce satisfactory results.

such a device can be employed by inserting such a 'device with the teeth in registration in the hairand then moving the teeth relatively so that they overlie one another. This grips the hair between them and flattens each hair and bends it, and when a sharp edge is; applied to the hair and the comb device is drawn lengthwise of the hair, a win is thus produced.

Such treatment is not painful to the user. Self-administered brief daily treatments, requiring substantially no more time and skill than ,the ordinary combing of the, hair, will sumce to form and keep the hair in attractive waves.

Further details of my invention and features thereof are hereinafter described with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig.1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention, a. portion thereof being shown broken away and the position of a hand holding said device being shown by dot-and-dash lines;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged foreshortened fragmen- I arrange the teeth of these comb taly-view similar to Fig. 1 but with other portions broken away to disclose the hinge mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on theline 5 M in 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line H in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line t% in Fig. 3, a few hairs being shown in their 1 initial position therein;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. but with the parts thereof being shownin aclosed position;

Fig. l is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the shape of the teeth of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a device embodying a modification of my invention; Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary. detail view of a portion of said device;

Fig. 1c is a view similar to Fig 9 but with the device in closed position and with parts gliizowri broken away to disclose the hinge mecha- Fig. 11 is an enlarged section taken on the line ii-ii inFig.10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged section taken on the' line iZ- iE in Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section taken on the therein;

Fig. 17 but with the Fig. 18 is a view similar to device in its opened position;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of a device embodying a further modification of my invention, a portion thereof being shown "broken away;

Fig. 20 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 19, a. diflerent portion thereof beingshown broken away:

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 19 but with the device shown in its closed position;

Fig. 22 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22-22 in Fig. 20, a few hairs being shown therein.

Fig. 231s a sectional view similar to Fig. 22,

the teeth being shown in a closed position;

the

' hair.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, two similar side members I and 2 are fastened together by a hinge 3. Side member I is provided with teeth 4 throughout a substantial part of its length, and side member 2 is similarly provided with teeth 5. The

remainder of the length 6 of said side members is adapted to serve as a handle. On either side of said handle, near the junction thereof with said toothed portions, a recess I is formed to permit said device to be easily grasped between the thumb and forefinger and thereby squeezed together by an amount that can be nicely controlled, thumb screw- 1w serving as an adjustable stop. Spring 8 tends to hold said members apart.

It will be noted that said side members are hinged together in such a way that teeth 4 and 5 are in staggered relation with respect to each other so that, whensaid sides are squeezed together, the openings between said teeth in which hairs may lie are pressed against the middle portion of the opposite tooth. This results in a rather sharp bending of any hairs that may lie between said teeth. By notching said teeth as shown in Fig. 6, three bends are thus produced in said hairs instead of the one 'bend that would be produced by unnotched, staggered teeth. However, the principle of my invention would be realized if notches 9-were not present.

In operation, the device should be grasped as should then be pressed together, thus bending' the hair between the teeth as described and also compressing it between the opposed faces and corners of said teeth. The device should i then be drawn along the hair like a comb, bending and compressing said hair throughout subtially its full length. When the hair has been thus treated, say, once or twice a day for a period that will vary with different types of hair, but which will usually be from two to three weeks, an attractive wavy effect will be produced.

Although the embodiment of my invention resembles an ordinary comb superficially, it will be apparent that its function and result differ materially therefrom. Its operation differs from that of an ordinary comb in that, after it is in place in the hair, but before it is drawn therethrough, the opposed sets of teeth are moved relative to each other to compress the hair between the opposed faces and corners thereof. The modification of my invention shown in Figs. 8 to 13, inclusive, comprises two side members Ill and II having teeth l2 and I3, respectively, along substantially their full lengths. Said members are pivotally fastened together substantially at their midpoint by. pin it. -In operation-,-; the device is inserted into the hair with the 'side members about in the position shown inFig. 8, that] is, said side membersare not quite parallel when they are inserted into the They are then turned parallel with each other, whereupon the portions of the teeth engaging the hair will have moved with respect to each other a distance about equal to the spacing of said teeth, so that said hair will lie between two opposed tooth faces as shown in Fig. l3. Then when said device is drawn through the hair, said hair will be drawn over corners I5, being bent sharply since said opposed tooth faces are perpendicular to the direction of their movement. I prefer to have pin it hold said side members together so firmly that a substantial pressure will be exerted between the aforesaid opposed tooth faces, thereby to compress the hair therebetween.

The embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 14 to 18, inclusive, comprises two side members l6 and I1 pivotally secured together at one end by hinge l8 and normally held apart at the other end by spring l9. Each of said side members is provided with teeth 20 along substantially its full length. I prefer said teeth to have notches 2| at their corners as shown in Fig. 17. said teeth should be of the same shape in section as teeth I and 5 in Fig. 1, and they are adapted to function in a similar way. They differ, however, in function in that in their open position in which they are inserted into the hair, there is full clearance between said teeth 20 for substantially their full depth, whereas the clearance between teeth 4 and 5 diminishes toward their roots. inserted into the hair in its open position as shown in Fig. 14. It is then closed by pressure of the fingers along its sides to substantially the position shown in Fig. 15. It will be seen that the modifications shown in Fig. 16 and Fig. lresemble each other in that the opposed teeth are adapted to 'rotate toward each other,

'whereas in the modification shown in Fig. 8

are adapted to rotate past dies of said tongs are squeezed. It will be seen that said side members are adapted to move toward each other in somewhat the same way as side members I 6 and I! in Fig. 16, 'diifering therefrom in one respect in that said members remain more nearly parallel as they move toward and from each other, and, in another respect, in that said movement may be more nicely controlled by said handles. However, I prefer that teeth 24 be of substantially the same shape, in section, as teeth 20.

In operation, said side members are held slight-- ly apart by said handles, as is shown in Fig. 14, while being inserted into the hair. Then said handles are squeezed together to move said side members together, and the device is then drawn through the hair, said hair being compressed and bent over relatively sharp corners 30.

- The embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 24 to 28, inclusive, comprises side members 3| and 32 slidably mounted in handle 33 and movable therein relative to each other by thumb pieces 34. Groove 29 in side member In operation, the device is 32 is adapted to engage tongue 510 on side member 3| to prevent lateral movement thereof. Said thumb pieces may be press fitted into said side members, and I prefer to provide grooves 35 in each of said side members adapted to engage flanges 35 on handle 33 thereby to hold said side members slidably in said handle. Slots3'l in said handle permit thumb pieces 34 to move slightly therein to move teeth 38 relative to each other. same shape as teeth I! and N in Fig. 8, inasmuch as they function in somewhat the. same way, difiering therefrom in that teeth remain more nearly parallel-to each other as they move, whereas teeth l2 and 43 form a varying angle with each other.

I prefer said teeth to be of the In operation, side members 3! and 32 should be positioned so that their opposing teeth coincide with each other as is shown in Fig. 25 while being inserted into the hair. Said side members should then be moved relative to each other a distance substantially equal to the spacing of said teeth, so that each tooth is opposed to a different tooth, as shown in Fig. 26, said hair being compressed between the opposed faces of said teeth and bent at an angle over the corners thereof by virtue of said opposed faces being perpendicular to the direction of thei movement through the hair.

The common features of each of the aforesaid embodiments of my invention consist in the movement of the side members relative to each other in staggered overlying relation after being inserted in the hair, and the simultaneous bend-.

ing of the hair over a relatively sharp corner and compressing it between said sharp corner and a flat surface.

The side members of each of the aforesaid modifications of my invention may be constructed of any suitable material such as hard rubber, and I prefer to mold or otherwise form said' members into the desired form.

Although the two comb elements which go to make up my hair waving device are shown operable manually, it is obvious that said devices can be moved relatively to each other by some such device as feed screws, cams and similar structures. I contemplate that said combs will be adjusted into overlying position to such a degree that the hair will be pulled slightly. The user obviously will not cause them to overlie to sucha degree that said pulling will be painful. To prevent said teeth from overlying to too great means pivotally joining said comb elements together and accommodating relative movement of said comb elements from a position where the spaces between the teeth on one comb element communicate with the spaces between the teeth on the other comb element, to a position where said spaces between said teeth are substantially out of communication, respectively, certain of the marginal portions of said teeth terminating in relatively sharp edges.

3. A hair waving comb comprising a plurality of comb elements each having spaced teeth, and means joining said comb elementstogether, said means providing anarticulated connection accommodating relative movement of said comb elements from a position where the spaces between the teeth on one comb element communicate with the spaces between the teeth on the other comb element, to a position where said spaces between said teeth are substantially out of communication, respectively, certain of the marginal portions of said teeth terminating in relatively sharp edges, said teeth being of irregular cross section, and being proportioned and arranged so that the teeth on one comb element will be relatively staggered and nest with and yet overlie laterally the teeth on the other comb element. 7

4. A hair waving comb comprising a. plurality of comb elements each having spaced teeth,

means joining said comb elements together, said means providing an articulated connection accommodating relative movement of said comb elements from a position where the spaces between the teeth on one comb element communicate with the spaces between the teeth on the other comb a degree, it is possible to have stops arranged element, to a position where said spaces between said teeth are substantially out of communication, respectively, certain of the marginal portions of said teeth terminating in relatively sharp edges, said teeth being T-shaped in cross section, and being proportioned and arranged so that the teeth on one comb element will be relatively staggered and nest with and yet overlie laterally the teeth on the other comb element.

5. A hair waving comb comprising a plurality of comb elements each having spaced teeth, means joining said comb elements together, said means providing an articulated connection accommodating relative movement of said comb elements from a position where the spaces between the teeth on one comb element communicate with the spaces between the teeth on the other comb element, to a position where said spaces between said teeth are substantially out of communication, respectively, certain of the marginal portions of said teeth terminating in relatively sharp edges, and resilient means, for

. holding said comb elements in spaced apart reelement, to a position where. said spaces between .lation.

6. A hair waving comb comprising a plurality of comb elements each having spaced teeth, means joining said comb elements together, said means providing an articulated connection accommodating relative movement of said comb elements from a position where the spaces between the teeth on one comb element communicate with the spaces between the teeth on the other comb element, to a position where said spaces between said teeth are substantially out of communication, respectively, certain of the marginal portions of said teeth'terminating in relatively sharp edges, said teeth being of irregular cross section, and being proportioned and arranged so that the teeth on one comb element 1 will be relatively staggered and nest with and yet overlie laterally the teeth on the other comb of comb elements eachhaving spaced teeth,

means joining said comb elements together, said means providing an articulated connection accommodating relative movement of said comb elements from a position where the spaces between the teeth on one comb element communicate with the spaces between the teethon the other comb element, to a position where said spaces between said teeth are substantially out of communication, respectively, certain of the marginal portions of said teeth terminating in relatively sharp edges, said teeth being of irregular cross section, and being proportioned and arranged so that the teeth on one comb element will be relatively staggered and nest with and yet overlie laterally the teeth on the other comb element, and a screw threaded stop for determining the depth to which the teeth on one comb element nest with the teeth on the other comb elements. 7

8. A hair waving comb comprising a plurality of comb elements each having spaced teeth, and means joining said comb elements together, said means providing an articulated connection at:- commodating relative movement of said comb elements from a position where the spaces between the teeth on one comb element communicate with the spaces between the teeth on the other comb element, to a position where said spaces between said teeth are substantially out of communication, respectively, certain of the marginal portions of said teeth terminating in relatively sharp edges, said joining means of said comb elements comprising a tong-type holder, the comb elements being connected thereto.

, 9. A hair waving comb comprising a plurality of comb elements each having spaced teeth, means joining said comb elements together, said means providing an articulated connection accommodating relative movement of said comb elements from a position where the spaces between; the teeth on one comb element communicate with the spaces between the teeth on the other comb element, to a position where said spaces between said teeth are substantially out of communication, respectively, certain of the marginal portions of said teeth terminating in relatively sharp edges, said joining means of said comb elements comprising a tong-type holder, the comb elements be-,

ing connected thereto, and pivotal connections upon the free ends of said tong-type holder seedges, said joiningemeans comprising an en-' circling back, the comb elements being stacked one on the other, said back engagin the distant faces of said comb elements, respectively.

11. A hair waving comb comprising a plurality of comb elements each having spaced teeth, means joining said comb elements together, said means providing an articulated connection accommodating relative movement of said comb elements from a position where the spaces between the teeth on one comb element communicate with the spaces between the teeth on the other comb element, to a position where said spaces between said teeth are substantially out of communication, respectively, certain of the marginal portions of said teeth terminating in relatively sharp edges, said joining means comprising an encircling back, the comb elements being stacked one on the other, said back engaging the distant faces of said comb elements, respectively, said back constituting a gripping clamp, spaced guides formed on said back, and a guide face formed upon the distant face of each of said comb elements, said guides engaging said faces, respectively.

12. A hair waving comb comprising a plurality of comb elements each having spaced teeth, means joining said comb elements together, said means providing an articulated connection accommodating relative movement of said comb ele-' said back engaging the distant faces of said comb elements, respectively, said back constituting a gripping clamp, spaced guides formed on said back, and a guide face formed upon the distant face of each of said comb elements, saidguides engaging said faces, respectively, the adjacent faces of said comb elements being tongue and groove connected.

13. A hair waving comb comprising a plurality of comb elements each having spaced teeth, means joining said comb elements together, said means providing an articulated connection accommodating relative movement of said comb elements from a position where the spaces between the teeth on one comb element communicate with the spaces between the teeth on the other comb element, to a position where said spaces between said teeth are substantially out of communication, respectively, certain of the marginal portions of said teeth terminating in relatively sharp edges, said joining means comprising an encircling back; the comb elements being stacked one on the other, said back engaging the distant faces of said comb elements, respectively, said back constituting a gripping clamp, spaced guides formed on said back, and a guide face formed upon the distant face of each of said comb elements, said guides engaging said faces, respectively, the adjacent faces of said comb elements being tongue and groove connected, said tongue and groove connection being housed within said back.

14. A hair waving comb comprising a plurality of comb elements each having spaced teeth, and means joining said comb elements together, said means providing an articulated connection accommodating relative movement of said comb elements from a position where the spaces between the teeth on one comb element communicate with the spaces between the teeth on th other comb element, to a position where said spaces between said teeth are substantially out of communication.

teeth having relatively sharp edges along their opposed faces, said opposed faces being held in close juxtaposition by. said means, said means providing articulation to enable said teeth to 6 move into and out of register.

ROLLIN W. WOODRUFF. 

